The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-02-25
From tho Southern Bivouac.
THE DANCE OF DEATH.
BY. MRS. NJ. sHErFREY PETERS.

of the Mnceuas. At the granite threshold of
the building he had hesitated, but the power of
habit is strong, and for Eve years it had been
his habit to spend from one to three hours
daily in the luxurious apartments set apart for
the choice spirits composing his Club
He had hesiated ON this occasion, not be-
cause he had ever failed in being q welcome
accession to the groups Of young men usually
to DO found engaged in the occupations Of the
place, but, without doubt, because Of tho unu-
sual circumstances environing his swu person
ality. For, the fact, is, it was the morning Of
Darby's marriage day.
That evening the multiform benefaotions of
the Gods, to him, were to bo crowned by the
gift of o wife of his own hearts choosing. Un-
der these circumstances, therefore, it was per-
haps natural that tho bride-groom-ele should
have hesitated to brave the attention his pres
ence was sure to call forth in the rooms of tho
Maeconas. Luckily, when he entered, there
were not half dozen fellows present, and
these were in group at one of the tables, ovi-
dontly engrossed in the discussion of some sub.
ject calculated to divide interest with the topic
naturally suggested by the unconscious of self
consciousness of tho new arrival
They were high-bred young bloods, those of
the Maecenas. The courtesy of their greeting
to Darby may have been trile more pronounce
ed than usual, that was all. Not tho lift of ON
eyelid, as they made room for him, betrayed
cognizance of the happy destiny they knew to
to be imminent for him. His best man expec-
tant, Hardin Golden, displayed admirable
finesse in setting all parties at ease.
iuat hoo,, tho
fate which has victimizcd poor Darrow,' he said
addressing Darby.
.Darrow-what Of him?
Man alive Have you not heard?' Why, the
morning papers are full Of the shocking occur
renee
The papers 1 have neglected to look into;
Il have been otherwise engaged stammered
Darby.
Hardin nodded.
understand. Well, Darrow, poor fellow,
met On awful death last evening"
1t can't be possible! Why, walked with
him on Carleton Terrace as late as o'clock,
and when parted from him he told me he was
going directly home
Yes, Yet it was not two blocks distant from
the terrace where he was tripped by the trail
n. sagraDa wiEe ,hs4s as Gas aats Ha
xurr;nc at full speed upon the elevated roao
above, tho buffer caught in the wire' "ne '.o
locomotive rushed on, dragging inc 'o''0
which Darrow, poor devil, was pe'ns 'o'e
Ekea shuttlecock. Over and oVe. nv
whirled, sometimes above the roots Oh 'ho NJ.
s,s. the wire broke, and he was droPp'o
a, obscure street, mangled and hfeiess'
Dorbv shiyered, he made no comment
,osan awful story to have heard on his or'u'
morning. How might mortal or'oe ,a'' W.
rode as in the car of Juggernaut, grinains "
the lives of the happy and wretcheo A''A''
Tho e;opaucy of Bret Cosby Jared upon
mood Mat,
~. .,,;res me that 3 about the style Deati
.,ontod these latter days. commented u
Young fashionable, breaking the sne"o'.
.u ;l-manncrcd monster that's not s'' INV
u,eness Of q Fronch dancing MASTER "h'u
no,nces upon and waltSes OIL TO des''u''
,,;,b n fellow, as he's done with Darro"'
.Fata !viam inUerienf mutterea o'nn'
NJ. wore Giles, Fleming, and Hoyt' as
as barrow ,s.
,a;. deaths which had befallen the quar-
of ,heir menlters in the past eighteen m'
.,0r. not epliyeniug events to revert TO.
g. .rhs uore that broke Flsmings ncsk.nad
landed bu, week in this country il'"' a.,
so;d Bret Cosby, 'one would th'hA oA'
orossod continents and seas, spurreu
three futeful hags, SO speedily dla sh' ~
Itch Fleming's doom on her arrival.
,rho fate that overlook Tom Giles wa
&c.. s,ropeo.' Commented Hardin
.honce in a thousand. 10 be struck ~
tonce of City feet, by pin from pa'''''
oomotiye is to me the very irony oi i"'o'
Tho attempt at pleasaatry evoked oa'
,.,n. The subject was one that stru
c,.,oh,v uuon the nerves Of the grou
co,den shook himself together. III
he the splitting Of q hair 10 mo- h' s",.
c,,lv. to make choice between 'he oo,'
o,d tho bolt of electricity that Kli'eu
,,s hard for fellow TO be done 10 ue'
charge of lightning when there was not
in the sky.
.Hoyt had been warned not 70 ''"'"
tsry wires, interpOsed Hairston'.
Grantley shrugged his shoulders
Il beievo you had also warned JACK
-, ,o hack that beastly Arabian, had
Hardin?'
Hardin assented, n - .g;s..
Tho Fates lead the willing and ora
willing, quoted drantley. "h0 wa
warn Giles or DarrowT -.
For the matter Of that hippan''y
cosby. .who can warn against the
NAV be lurking in ambush for the
t.uows that leaves the haecenass
Rendered restless by the turn tn
. =, ,oLon Darby had moved